The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy will be conducting public hearings in Zvishavane and Mashava on Monday 21st February.
The purpose of the hearings is to assist the committee to assess the impact of the closure of the Shabanie and Mashava mines in Zvishavane and Mashava on the surrounding community and the business sector. Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to attend the hearings to give information and express their views.
The committee has already heard conflicting evidence from Mr Mutumwa Mawere and Minister of Justice Chinamasa on this long-running saga. While the struggle for ownership of the mine continues, hundreds of people have been put out of work and the economy of the whole area has been severely affected.
Background: Until 2005 the SMM group which owned the mines was controlled by Mr Mutumwa Mawere. In that year he and his companies were specified under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the companies were placed under the control of an administrator in terms of the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Companies legislation by order of Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa. The mines have performed badly under the administrators management, and prolonged failure to pay mineworkers resulted in labour protests brutally put down by police. Unpaid bills led to cutting-off of power supplies and flooding of the mines, which were eventually shut down. Mr Mawere has battled unsuccessfully to regain control of his companies, although last year the co-Ministers of Home Affairs revoked the specifications under the Prevention of Corruption Act. But the Supreme Court has just upheld the constitutionality of the Reconstruction legislation.
Details of Mondays two public hearings are as follows:
Monday 21st February at 9.30 am
Nyaradzai Hall, Shabanie Mine, Zvishavane
Monday 21st February at 2 pm
Mashava Mine stadium, Mashava
Committee Chairperson: Hon. Chindori-Chininga
Clerk: Mr Shepherd Manhivi
If you want to make an oral submission at a hearing, signify this to the Committee Clerk before the hearing begins so that he can notify the chairperson to call on you. An oral submission is more effective if it is followed up in writing. If you have a written submission, it is advisable to take as many copies as possible with you for circulation to committee members at the meeting.
If you cannot attend either of the hearings but wish to make your views known to the committee, written submissions and correspondence are also welcome and should be addressed to:
The Clerk of Parliament
Attention: Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy
P. O Box CY 298
Causeway, Harare
or emailed to clerk@parlzim.gov.zw or manhivis@parlzim.gov.zw
Parliaments telephone numbers are Harare 700181 or 252936-55. Mr Manhivis mobile number is 0772 247 864.
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Post published in: News